by Robert M. Traxler
Let’s talk about aging and exercise, health and exercise, cancer and exercise, heart disease and exercise, general happiness and exercise.
I grew up as an obese kid; then puberty set in and I discovered girls and dropped 80 pounds. As one of the folks who has an overweight person inside fighting to get out, I find weight control is a constant problem.
After retiring from the Army and not having to make weight twice a year, the fat guy got out; 45 pounds later I looked in the mirror and said I needed to do something, so I took up long distant running, I did 19 marathons and a large number of shorter races, but pain in the hips eventually caused me to stop. According to Doctor Howard, a truly gifted local orthopedic surgeon, it was arthritis not related to running that was the problem. Two artificial hips later, running was out, but Dr. Howard recommended walking.
A side note, having hips replaced was a good bit easer than expected; three weeks after surgery I was 150% recovered. The extra 50% is the lack of pain and increased range of movement. I wish I had the surgery seven years earlier.
When I was diagnosed with advanced aggressive prostate cancer (words you do not want to hear a doctor say in the same sentence are advanced, aggressive and cancer), things looked bleak. Years of IMRT and drugs have knocked it back. The oncologist recommended walking for general health and weight control as well.
So, I joined a neighborhood walking group, two point one miles a day averaging better than five days a week, a mile up the road a mile back, no sidewalks or parks. Our group has as regulars a cancer survivor, the spouses of cancer victims, an old Army fart, and others join in as time permits. Exercise, according to WebMD, can help breast cancer prevention and help cure and some others, but not prostate cancer.
However, good general health is important in fighting any disease, as is weight control. The social aspect, exchanging knowledge and providing support, is also important.
In a society in which many recruits for the military are too heavy and cannot pass a fitness test, we should look at exercise. Many if not most large big box stores have online shopping; you just drive up have someone put groceries in your vehicle and you drive home, very little exercise necessary. Amazon has made it easy to shop, eliminating the inconvenience of walking around a brick and mortar store. No need to go to most places we used to need to go, as you can do it all online, no effort needed.
As life becomes easer and we have more free time, what is your excuse for not exercising? Obesity and diabetes cost us an estimated $220 billion a year in additional medical costs; it has also cut life expectancy for the average American.
If you shop online as I do and have conveniences that save time and effort, what is the excuse for not exercising? The next time you sit and stare at an electronic device, think that you could be exercising. An exercise bike can cost under a hundred dollars, a decent pair of walking shoes is also well under a hundred dollars, heck you can walk in place for free. I have an inexpensive recumbent bike I ride 30 minutes a day six days a week while watching my favorite programs. Walking is the weight bearing exercise and the bike more cardiovascular.
Exercise monitoring devices are cheap and can keep help you monitor your progress; they are not required but may help keep us honest.
Talk with 10 people and nine will have an excuse for not doing even the most basic exercise. Most are not valid, but we have convinced ourselves we cannot or should not exercise. If you start an exercise program, and you should, start small and work up slowly.
The maximum effective range of an excuse is zero meters; get off your butt and do something. Heck, you can even sit on your butt and do something. Stand up straight, look down and if you can’t see your toes you have a problem.
